Roseville's Crime Rate Drops to 17-year-low

Last Updated: 2/20/2013

In 2012, Roseville's crime rate was 2,944 reported crimes per 100,000 residents, the city's lowest per-capita crime rate in at least 17 years. In comments to Roseville's City Council last week, Police Chief Daniel Hahn attributed the drop in crime to officers and the community working together to improve Roseville's quality of life. Chief Hahn said, "This is not just a police department celebration--it's a community victory. We look forward to an even better year in 2013."

According to FBI statistics, during the first six months of 2012, California cities of 100,000 or more residents collectively reported a 9 percent increase in property crimes over 2011. During the same period of time, Roseville posted a nearly 10 percent decrease in property crimes.

Chief Hahn told City Council that there are two types of conditions that affect crime; those beyond our control, like the price of metal driving up demand; and factors that are within our control, like locking our doors and securing our property, watching out for our neighbors, and working together as a community to solve problems.

From 2011 to 2012, Roseville patrol officers increased their discretionary activities, like traffic stops, subject stops and directed patrols in higher-crime areas by five percent. Not to be outdone, Roseville community members increased their calls to police about suspicious activities by seven percent. A recent example of police-community teamwork is a new "etch and catch" service to prevent the theft of catalytic converters, provided for free by three Roseville auto-service businesses and the City's Citizen's Benefit Fund.

Violent Crime by Category

Homicides increased by one, from 1 in 2011 to 2 in 2012

Rapes decreased 38 percent, from 24 in 2011 to 15 in 2012.

Robberies increased 95 percent, from 43 in 2011 to 84 in 2012. Chief Hahn noted while this was of concern, robberies hit an unusually low point in 2011, falling 51 percent below the previous year. The average number of robberies reported over the past 17 years was 71 per year.

Aggravated assaults increased 7 percent, from 180 to 192.

Total violent crimes increased 18 percent, and the per-capita rate of violent crime increased 16 percent, primarly because of the increase in robberies.

The 2012 violent crime rate of 240 violent crimes per 100,000 residents was Roseville's second-lowest rate in 17 years; 2011 was the lowest.